Key-board playing attachment for musical instruments



(No Model.)

J. P. BECKER. KEY BOARD PLAYHV? ATTACHMENT FOE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No: 449,396. Patented Mar. 81, 1891.

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y m Z I w n/ y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. BECKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

KEY-BOARD PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 449,396, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed May 1, 1890. Serial No. 350,124:- (No model.) i

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. BECKER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of TVa-yne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Attachments for the Mechanical Playing of Pianos, Organs, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in attachments for a mechanical playing of pianos; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of a roll arranged across the front of the piano having a series of depressions or indentations arranged upon its exterior surface, each series being opposite its key in the order in which the notes are to be played to produce'any desired tune, combined with a series of actuating levers journaled in proximity to the roll, having pins adapted to engage the indentations, a striker-arm extending over the keys, a spring for actuating the striker-arm, and power mechanism for rotating the roll, and, further, in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure l is a plan view of my improved device applied to a piano. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section thereof. Fig. is a diagram front elevation of a piano, showing my device arranged to operate the pedals.

A is the case, preferably a rectangularbox supported by the bracket 13, which is adj ustably secured to the bracket 0, secured to the front of the piano 0 by means of a bolt upon the bracket O, engaging a slot in the bracket 13, the two being clamped together by the wing-nut D.

E is an operating-roll jouinaled upon suitable shafts F in the end of the case A. Upon this shaft is secured the coil-spring F and the gear-wheel G, which meshes with gearpinion H upon the shaft I, which also carries the gear-wheel J, meshing with the pinion K upon the shaft L, carrying the fan M, the train of gearing and the fan acting as a governor to regulate the speed of the roll. The roll is provided on its surface with a series of indentations a arranged around its circumference, each series opposite one of the keys. These indentations are preferablyof the rectangular cross-section, as shown in Fig. 2.

O are aseries of bell-crank levers journaled in front of the roll in any suitable manner, preferably in the bearing-block l), which has suitable means for increasing or decreasing the tension upon the pivot thereof. The arm 0 of the lever 0 extends verticallydownward across the front of the roll and is provided at its lower end with the pin cl, which has its upper face inclined. The arm 0 also has the downwardly-projecting extension 6, which extends in front of the rock-bar f, journaled in the ends of the case across the entire length of the roll and provided on the outside of the case with a suitable crank-handle g. Each of the arms 0 is held in contact with the roll E by the tension of the spring h, which is secured to the front of the case. The other arms '5 of the bell-crank levers O extend over the key-board, one for each key, and these arms form the striker-arms, each provided with a suitable bearing j.

The parts being thus constructed and arranged they are intended to operate as follows: The case may be attached to the piano by means of the wing-nuts D and adjusted vertically, so that the striker-arms t are in proper relation to the case. The operator now turns the crank-handle g, which throws forward the rock-shaft f, moving the arms 0 of the bell-crank levers 0 toward the piano, so that the pins (Z are out of engagement with the indentations o. in the roll. By means of any suitable crank-handle or key the roll may now be rotated and the spring put under tension. The operator releasing his hold of the handle g, the arms 0 are brought into contact with the roll by the tension of the spring 7r. The spring F will now act to r0- tate the roll, being given a steady motion by means of the train of gearing and fan, as described. As each indentation Ct in the roll is brought opposite the pin d, the pin will enter the indentation, allowing the arm 0 to move quickly forward and bringing down the striker-arm t to strike the key of the piano. In this way the indentations on the roll being properly arranged, the desired tune will be performed. Any other suitable means of actuation may be given to the roll other than I have described.

To remove the device from the piano, all that is necessary to do is to loosen the Wingnuts, leaving the piano in shape to be played by hand, if desired, and without impairing its appearance in any Way. These rolls I make detachable in any suitable manner, so that difierent tunes may be played, as desired.

In order to use my device for operating the pedals of the piano as well as the keys, I provide it with additional levers P, preferably placed at the bottom of the box at each end of the roll, and provided with springs h and pins dsimilar to thoseof thelevers 0. By means of suitable levers Q and connectingrods R motion is communicated to the pedals, and by properly arranging the indentations any desired effect may be produced.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a device of the kind described, the combination, with a roll having a series of indentations on its periphery, of a series of spring-actuated bell-crank levers normally held in contact with the surface of said roll, being pivoted in a different plane from the roll, and having pins beveled on their upper face, adapted to enter said indentations, and a rock-arm for throwing the levers out of engagement with the roll, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination, with a roll having indentations on its surface, of a series of spring-actuated bell-crank levers normally held in contact with. said rolls, having pins on their lower inner ends, adapted to enter said indentations, and extending out at right angles thereto, a rock-shaft for disengaging said bell-crank levers, and mechanism for rotating the roll, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the kind described, the

levers in front of said roll, adapted to be raised and lowered by pins entering said indentations and strike and release the keys of a piano or organ, and spring-actuated arms, normally held in contact with the roll, having connected thereto a lever, said lever being connected by means of alink to the pedal and operating the same when the springactuated lever enters an indentation, substantially as described. y

I 4. In a device of the kind described, the combination of the case A, thebracket B adjustably supported upon the bracket 0, the roll E, the spring-actuating mechanism therefor, the indentations a, the bell-crank levers 0, having the actuating-arm provided With' pins, and the striker-arm provided with a bearing, the parts being arranged to operate substantially as described.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination, with the roll provided with a series of indentations a in its exterior surface, of a lever P extending in proximity thereto, having a pin d, adapted to enter the indentations a, and connecting mechanism to the pedal, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the spring-actuated roll having a series of indentations, of a series of bell-crank levers having pins on their lower inner faces adjacent to and resting normally against the roll, journals at the angles of the levers supporting the same, springs for pressing the levers against the roll, and hearings on the underouter faces of the bellcranks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OI-IN P. BECKER.

I/Vitnesses P. W. HULBERT, M. B. ODocHER'rY. 

